A Seller's Market

As Washington State officials spend the final days of December erecting a legal market for recreational marijuana from scratch, two big mysteries await them: Just how much weed will people buy? And will there be enough dope to meet demand?

The questions have vexed state officials as they decide how many stores to license for pot sales and how much marijuana they'll allow to be grown. "We've always been worried about supply and demand," says Brian Smith, a spokesman for the Washington State Liquor Control Board, which will regulate the pot market. "You base it on the best data you have...